Illustration of skate
skate
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈskāt 
plural skates also skate
: any of a family (Rajidae, especially genus Raja) of rays with the pectoral fins greatly developed giving the fish a flat diamond shape
skate
2 of 4noun (2)
1
a
: a metal frame that can be fitted to the sole of a shoe and to which is attached a runner or a set of wheels for gliding over ice or a surface other than ice
b
: roller skate
especially : in-line skate
c
: ice skate
2
: a period of skating
skate
3 of 4verb
skated; skating
intransitive verb
1
: to glide along on skates propelled by the alternate action of the legs
2
: to slip or glide as if on skates
3
: to proceed in a superficial or blithe manner
transitive verb
: to go along or through by skating
skate
4 of 4noun (3)
1
: a thin awkward-looking or decrepit horse : nag
2
: fellow sense 4c
Example Sentences
Verb hockey players skating into position Couples skated around the rink. She skated an excellent program in the competition. We skate at the park. The bugs skated along the surface of the water.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English scate, from Old Norse skata
Noun (2)
modification of Dutch schaats, from Middle Dutch schaetse stilt, from Old French dialect (Flanders, Hainaut) *escace, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English sceacan to shake — more at shake
Noun (3)
probably alteration of English dialect skite an offensive person
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1696, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (3)
1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing skate
Kids Definition
skate 1 of 3
verb
ˈskāt
skated; skating
1
: to glide along on skates
2
: to slide or glide along
They watched long-legged water-bugs skate over the glassy-still pools.
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairieskate
2 of 3noun
1
: a metal blade fitting the sole of the shoe or a shoe with a permanently attached metal blade used for gliding on ice
2
: roller skate
skate
3 of 3noun
: a flat fish related to the sharks that has large and nearly triangular fins
skates 1 of 2
noun
as in steeds
a physically unsound horse Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- steeds
- dobbins
- plugs
- equines
- colts
- mares
- foals
- ponies
- stallions
- cobs
- jades
- nags
- geldings
- warhorses
- trotters
- mounts
- fillies
- equids
- prancers
- racehorses
- broncos
- quarter horses
- saddle horses
- cow ponies
- packhorses
- blacks
- bays
- mustangs
- bronchos
- cutting horses
- gallopers
- chargers
- hacks
- palominos
- chestnuts
- sorrels
- hackneys
- workhorses
- pintoes
- roans
- coursers
- duns
- buckskins
- pintos
- skewbalds
skates
2 of 2verb
as in glides
Synonyms & Similar Words
- glides
- slides
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grinds
- scrapes
- scratches
- rubs
- grates
- rasps
- groans
- whines